Agriculture Minister Bridget McKenzie said farmers should feel safe at home and at work.

"Animal activists who seek to incite others to trespass and break the law are on notice, as of the Royal assent being granted to the legislation passed through the Parliament today, they'll be subject to up to five years' jail time," Ms McKenzie said.

Protections in place

The Law Council of Australia had raised concerns that the laws could hinder press freedoms, and welcomed the amendments.

"The amendments strengthen the protections available to journalists under the legislation by removing the requirement that a journalist must prove disclosure of 'offending' material was in the public interest," said Law Council president Arthur Moses.

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Extended to timber industry

The forestry industry also welcomed amendments which will see the new laws apply to timber and pulp mills under the definition of primary production businesses.

The Australian Forestry Products Association's Ross Hampton said the new laws sent a strong message to timber workers "that they should be allowed to go about their lawful business without fear of having their livelihoods compromised by illegal protests".

"For decades, forest workplaces have been subject to aggressive and damaging interference from activists with disastrous financial impacts on lawful businesses, despite Australia having some of the most sustainable, regulated forestry practices in the world," Mr Hampton said.